GRAND RAPIDS, MI –Alexey Marchenko, who made the AHL All-Star Classic with the Grand Rapids Griffins and is one of Detroit’s top defensive prospects, is expected to miss the rest of the season following an ankle injury.

Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manger, said Wednesday that Marchenko will have surgery "in the next couple days" for a severe high ankle sprain that occurred in Sunday’s game with the Griffins at Milwaukee.

"I don't think it's anticipated he will be able to do much of anything for the first six to eight weeks (following surgery), and so we're planning that he is done for the year," Martin said.

The 22-year-old rookie was hurt late in the second period, and had to be helped off the ice.

Surgery for a sprain is unusual, but necessary in Marchenko's case, Martin said, to hold two bones in place with a screw and enable the damaged ligament and tissue to heal properly.

"He is a significant loss for us," Martin said. "He was having a tremendous year, and has been one of those guys who was improving every week and always making smart, simple plays."

Marchenko, Detroit’s ninth choice (205 overall) in the 2011 draft, has impressed in his first season with the Griffins. He has 18 points (3-15-18) and plus-11 rating in 49 games. He also spent just over a week with the Red Wings in January, and played in one game.

Martin expects Marchenko to heal and be ready for next season.

The 6-foot-2, 183-pounder played the past four seasons playing in his native Russia for CSKA Moscow of the KHL.

This season he became just the third rookie defenseman with the Griffins selected to the AHL all-star game.